Ultimate Guide to Unforgettable Bali Day Trips from Ubud & Best Ubud Day Tours

We’ve all seen those “top 10 Ubud day tours” lists recommending the same overpriced, overcrowded traps. This is different. Here you’ll get:

The Underground Bali Experience

• Waterfalls where the only sound is your own amazement
• Temple ceremonies most tourists never witness
• Rice terrace cafes that don’t appear on any “must-eat” lists

– Swap yoga mats for volcano boots – Sunrise at Mount Batur isn’t just a hike, it’s a spiritual awakening (with killer Instagram bragging rights)
– Trade monkey forest selfies for temple doorframes – Lempuyang’s Gates of Heaven? More like Gates of “How Is This Even Real?!”
 – Exchange organic smoothies for saltwater therapy – From Padang Padang’s surf breaks to Amed’s coral gardens in under 2 hours

Pro Move: Book a private Bali day tours from Ubud with Hey Bali to hit Sekumpul Waterfall before the crowds arrive, then swing by Lovina for sunset dolphins – all without being trapped in a van with someone’s screaming toddler.

– Tegalalang Rice Terraces at dawn – Before the influencers arrive with their floppy hats and endless photoshoots

– Hidden waterfalls – Like Tibumana, where you can actually hear nature over tourist chatter

– Art villages – Where your “souvenir” is watching a master goldsmith create jewelry like it’s 1352

– Cooking classes – Not that basic hotel buffet nonsense – we’re talking firewood stoves and grandma’s secret sambal recipes

The Hey Bali Power Move

“Why choose when you can DOMINATE?”

Sample Itinerary for Ballers:

• Monday: Sunrise at Lempuyang (day trip) → Afternoon nap → Evening kecak dance
• Tuesday: Jungle breakfast → Silver-making workshop (Ubud tour) → Secret waterfall swim
• Wednesday: Sleep in → Afternoon volcano hike → Midnight babi guling feast

Pro Tip: Always ask guides: “Is this in Ubud or are we leaving Ubud?” Saves you from showing up to a cooking class in your volcano-hiking boots.

Why This Slaps:

Imagine sipping java at 1,717m as the sun sets the entire island on fire (figuratively, thankfully). This ain’t just a hike – it’s a spiritual bootcamp with bragging rights.

Hey Bali Pro Moves:

✔ 2AM departure = Worth every lost hour of sleep (promise)
✔ Secret hot spring – Skip Toya Devasa’s crowds for undisclosed local springs
✔ “But I’m not fit!” – Chill, grandma’s done this hike. You’ll survive.

Why This Hits Different:

This trifecta serves:

• Holy water purification (Tirta Empul) – Like a spiritual carwash for your soul
• Bali’s mother temple (Besakih) – Where every stone whispers centuries of prayers
• That iconic shot (Lempuyang) – Pro tip: The “Gates of Heaven” are cool, but the real magic is in the lower temples nobody visits

Insider Intel:

☑ 5AM at Lempuyang = No queues, no “influencers” doing 47 outfit changes
☑ Sarong game strong – The temple-provided ones look like tablecloths. Bring your own.
☑ Guide required at Besakih – Not optional. These guys are walking Wikipedia entries.

The Lowdown:

Virgin Beach isn’t just a clever name – it’s Bali’s best-kept secret with:

• Sand so white it’ll blind you (sunglasses mandatory)
• Warungs serving lobster for less than your airport coffee
• Nearby Taman Ujung – Bali’s answer to Atlantis, minus the underwater part

Next-Level Play:

➡ Pair with Tirta Gangga – Those stepping stones? Perfect for pretending you’re in a James Bond movie
➡ Weekdays only – Weekends bring… shudders… day trippers

Real Talk:

Sekumpul Waterfall makes Tegenungan look like a bathroom leak. But here’s the tea:

• “Easy route” = Still involves river crossings (RIP your flip-flops)
• Local guides mandatory – They’ll literally carry you if you wimp out

Lovina Dolphins 101:

– Sunrise tours – The only time dolphin chasing is acceptable

– Ethical operators exist – Look for “no engine near pods” policies

– Secret bonus – Stop at Banjar Hot Springs post-dolphins for a muscle melt

Why This is Bali’s Best Kept Secret:

• Coral gardens that make the Great Barrier Reef jealous
• Zero crowds (because lazy tourists won’t drive 4 hours)
• Deer literally swimming beside your boat (hence “Menjangan” = deer)

Game-Changer Tips:

1. Overnight in Pemuteran – Turns this into a luxe mini-retreat
2. Private boat > group tour – Costs barely more but feels like you’re a Bond villain
3. National Park add-on – Spot wild deer and eagles between snorkel sessions

“But how do I choose?!” Easy:

– Adrenaline junkie? Batur + Sekumpul
– Culture vulture? Temple trifecta + East Bali
– Water baby? Menjangan + Virgin Beach
– Wildlife lover? Dolphins + National Park

Pro Move: Book private drivers from Hey Bali (half the price, twice the authenticity).

Why This Ain’t Your Typical Instagram Trap:

Tegalalang isn’t just a photo op – it’s where farmers still plant rice the way their great-great-grandparents did. The secret?

✔ 5AM arrival = Golden light + zero influencers
✔ Hidden viewpoint near Alas Harum (where the swings don’t cost your dignity)
✔ Farmer coffee break – That 25K IDR purchase helps more than you know

Hey Bali Hack: “Most ‘jungle swings’ are tourist traps. The legit ones let you BYO photographer.”

The Ultimate Trifecta:

– Tukad Cepung – Nature’s cathedral (go at 7AM before the iPhone priests arrive)
– Kanto Lampo – Natural water slides (RIP your white bikini dreams)
– Tegenungan – The “quick fix” when you’re short on time

Local Intel:

☑ November blues? Skip Tukad if it’s pouring – turns into a death trap
☑ Footwear matters – Tevas > flip flops unless you fancy broken ankles
☑ Secret fourth waterfall? Ask your driver about Tibumana’s quieter cousin

Not Your Grandma’s Gift Shop:

• Celuk silver smiths – Watch rings forged from melted-down family heirlooms
• Mas woodcarvers – Where a block of teak becomes a deity before your eyes
• Batuan painters – The OG Bali artists before Instagram existed

Pro Moves:

– Bargain like a boss – Start at 30% of asking price, meet at 50%
– Workshop visits > showrooms – The real magic happens out back
– Try it yourself – Many places offer 30-minute crash courses

Forget Tourist Menus – Here’s the Real Deal:

– Babi guling – The crackling will haunt your dreams (in a good way)
– Sate lilit – Minced fish satay that puts chicken to shame
– Jaje bali – Coconut sweets that’ll make you question Western desserts

“But How Do I Book the Good Stuff?”

Option 1: DIY like a boss – Rent a scooter, follow our maps
Option 2: Local guides – Ask your homestay host’s cousin (seriously)
Option 3: Hey Bali’s faves – We’ve vetted the ones who don’t rush you

Final Warning: These Ubud day tours will ruin mass tourism for you forever. No refunds for awakened consciousness.

(AKA: You consider 3AM wake-up calls “self-care”)

Your Match:

☑ Volcano or Die – Batur sunrise hikes where the reward is breakfast with a side of god complex
☑ Waterfall Warrior – Sekumpul’s slippery death marches (worth every near-broken ankle)
☑ Snorkel Amazing – Menjangan Island’s coral gardens (aka fish paradise)

Pro Move:

“Skip the group tours unless you enjoy waiting for 12 people to take the same Instagram shot.” Book private and actually do stuff instead of herding.

(Translation: You’d rather chat with a woodcarver than do downward dog)

Your Soulmates:

– Temple Jedi Training – Lempuyang before dawn, Tirta Empul purification rituals
– Art Village Deep Dives – Where your souvenir has a 3-generation backstory
– Kitchen Confidential – Balinese cooking classes that start at the morning market

Local Intel:

“The best guides are the ones who invite you for coffee at their cousin’s compound after.”

(Read: If it doesn’t involve massage or espresso, you’re out)

Your Happy Place:

– Rice Terrace Slow Walks – Tegalalang’s back routes sans swing selfies
– Spa-ttack – Jungle massages where the soundtrack is actual jungle
– Beach Bumming – Virgin Beach with a side of grilled seafood

Hey Bali Hack:

“Private driver = Nap translator. ‘Pak, bisa stop for coconut nap?’ is a valid request.”

(Because FOMO is real, people)

Sample Itinerary for Ballers:

• Monday: Sunrise volcano → Afternoon nap → Evening kecak dance
• Tuesday: Silver-making workshop → Secret waterfall → Midnight babi guling
• Wednesday: Sleep in → Lazy rice terrace lunch → Sound healing session

Pro Tip:

“The magic happens when you balance ‘holy shit’ moments with ‘hammock time’.”

“Here’s the dirty little secret of Bali travel: The difference between a ‘trip’ and an ‘experience’ comes down to who’s got your back. It’s that local friend who texts you at 6AM saying ‘Skip Batur today – my cousin’s village is doing a tooth-filing ceremony that’ll blow your mind’. The kind of insider who doesn’t just take you to places, but brings you into moments.”

(Funny how those people all seem to be in our WhatsApp contacts… almost like we’ve spent years curating the dream team of Bali fixers, drivers, and culture whisperers. But hey, what’s the point of having awesome local friends if we can’t share them, right?)

Bonus: “Which Gets More Crowded – Ubud Tours or Bali Day Trips?”

The Tea:

Bali Day Trips (Lempuyang/GWK are influencer magnets)
Ubud Tours can be peaceful if you know hidden spots

Hey Bali Move:

✔ “Book ‘offbeat’ Ubud tours focusing on lesser-known villages and waterfalls”